Modular server processing card system and method

Abstract

A server processing card includes a system board having a first printed circuit board operable to couple a central processing unit, a dynamic memory integrated circuit, at least first network interface integrated circuitry, and a first expansion connector. An in-line board may be coupled with the system board, the in-line board comprising a second printed circuit board, at least one component, and a second expansion connector complimentary to the first expansion connector such that the coupling of the first expansion connector with the second expansion connector allows the at least one component to cooperate with the system board to enhance functionality of the server processing card. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention the second printed circuit board extends along a plane generally parallel with the first printed circuit board. The first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board may extend along a common plane, while the first connector is coupled with the second connector.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A server processing card, comprising: 
 a system board including a first printed circuit board operable to couple a central processing unit, a dynamic memory integrated circuit, at least first network interface integrated circuitry, and a first expansion connector;    an in-line board comprising a second printed circuit board, at least one component, and a second expansion connector complementary to the first expansion connector such that coupling of the first expansion connector with the second expansion connector allows the at least one component to cooperate with the system board to enhance functionality of the server processing card; and    wherein the second printed circuit board extends along a plane generally parallel with the first printed circuit board.    
     
     
         2 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board each extend along a common plane, while the first connector is coupled with the second connector.  
     
     
         3 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component comprises a disk drive.  
     
     
         4 . The server processing card of  claim 3 , wherein the disk drive comprises a first disk drive and wherein the in-line board further comprises a second disk drive.  
     
     
         5 . The server processing card of  claim 4 , wherein the first disk drive and the second disk drive are configured to provide a redundant array of inexpensive disks.  
     
     
         6 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a solid state disk.  
     
     
         7 . The server processing card of  claim 6 , wherein the solid state disk includes a battery backup power source.  
     
     
         8 . The server processing card of  claim 6 , wherein the solid state disk comprises a first solid state disk, and further comprising a second solid state disk.  
     
     
         9 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a real-time audio/video encoder board.  
     
     
         10 . The server processing card of  claim 9 , wherein the in-line board includes a disk drive.  
     
     
         11 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit comprises a first central processing unit, and wherein the component comprises a second central processing unit.  
     
     
         12 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a Fiberchannel host channel adapter.  
     
     
         13 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises hardware accelerated iSCSI over gigabit NIC.  
     
     
         14 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , further comprising a server rack connector coupled with the first printed circuit board, the server rack connector being operable to couple the server processing card with a server rack.  
     
     
         15 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , wherein the first network interface integrated circuitry is operable to route public network traffic between a public network and the server processing card.  
     
     
         16 . The server processing card of  claim 1 , further comprising at least second network interface integrated circuitry and third network interface integrated circuitry, wherein the second network interface integrated circuitry is operable to route private network traffic between a private network and the server processing card, and the third network interface integrated circuitry is operable to route management network traffic between a management network and the server processing card.  
     
     
         17 . The server processing card of  claim 4  wherein the first disk drive and the second disk drive are striped.  
     
     
         18 . The server processing card of  claim 4 , wherein the first disk drive and the second disk drive are mirrored.  
     
     
         19 . A method for forming a server processing card, comprising: 
 providing a system board including a first printed circuit board operable to couple a central processing unit, a dynamic memory integrated circuit, at least first network interface integrated circuitry, and a first expansion connector;    coupling an in-line board to the system board, the in-line board comprising a second printed circuit board, at least one component, and a second expansion connector complimentary to the first expansion connector such that coupling of the first expansion connector with the second expansion connector allows the at least one component to cooperate with the system board to enhance functionality of the server processing card; and    wherein the second printed circuit board extends along a plane generally parallel with the first printed circuit board.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board each extend along a common plane, while the first connector is coupled with the second connector.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one component comprises a disk drive.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the component comprises a solid state disk.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the component comprises a real-time audio/video encoder board.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the component comprises a Fiberchannel host channel adapter.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the component comprises hardware accelerated ISCSI over gigabit NIC.